Chapter 5: The Lady of Battles
The night that they began the search for Brock, a few hours after sunset Paine and her companions rode upon a set of carved and painted cairn stones atop a burgeoning hill. Aidan guided them up this familiar landmark and they dismounted to make camp for the night. Caelan gathered some dry twigs and put them into a ritual fireplace in the center of the cairns, and lit them ablaze with a piece of flint and an iron spike. Aidan spread out their bed rolls and sat on the soft loamy ground at the foot of a big cairn stone.
"If he's nearby, Brock may see our campfire." Aidan rationalized.
"Of course, raiders may also see it." Caelan added.
"Afraid of a little confrontation, are we?" Aidan teased him.
"Nah… I'll sleep like a newborn either way." Caelan replied.
"By chance, you didn't bring us a jug of punch, did ye?" Aidan asked eagerly.
"Aye, don't you know me by now, Brother?" Caelan said, and he walked to his saddle where it rested upon a small round boulder, and produced a white ceramic jug from his saddle pack.
"At'a boy!" Aidan said excitedly.
"Lady Paine, will you have a sip?" Caelan offered to her.
"Thanks, but I'd like to keep my wits sharp, if raiders are as common as you say around here." She said firmly.
"Well there's certainly no need to get drunk, but we need to make an offering if we wish to stay here the night, and everybody in the company should share in a cup, even just a sip." Aidan informed her.
"Very well then." Paine agreed reluctantly.
"This cairn belongs to the nature spirits of the island. We have similar sites scattered about, where sages come to meditate and communicate with the spirits. It's custom to leave out a cup for them, and to drink with them, and burn incense." Aidan explained further. As he spoke, Caelan opened up another satchel and took out handfuls of dried jasmine and tossed them into the fire. They sparked and smoked with a heavy aroma. Aidan poured some whiskey into a copper cup and tossed a bit of it into the blaze, whereupon it jumped up with a hiss and Paine heard a faint screech trailing about the cairns. She sat up attentively then, and her bright red eyes were wide as they scanned the darkness around her.
"Spirits of the land, wights and fairy kin and all ye souls of the departed, keep us good company and make no mischief, and let the balance of the land be kept; let harmony reign between man and beast, all creatures, and the earth herself. So we pray, and so we shall keep." Aidan said in a low, auspicious sounding voice. Paine felt a tension in the air around them, but after Aidan poured another cup and handed it to Caelan, who then set it down upon a stone altar among the cairns. The spirits settled down and rested peacefully then, and Paine could sense an aura of calm acceptance of their presence. She wondered if this feeling was new to her, on account of her recently developed powers.
"We'll be fine here for the night, now that the offering is made. Still, it is good to drink with our company in good faith. The ghosts like to listen to folk talk and share stories on quiet nights like this. Lady Paine, tell us more of yourself. That's a fine sword you carry. Where did you get it?" Aidan asked, and he took a swig from the jug of punch, then handed it to Caelan, who sat by the fire and took a drink himself, before passing it around to Paine herself. She took a sip of the whiskey-punch; it was sweet and tangy, yet fiery and thick with spirits. She then handed it back and spoke.
"Brock gave this sword to me, but it belonged to one of our fallen comrades. I wasn't there during his last battle, but Brock told me that he fought and died bravely. Funnily enough, I never liked him much, but I have to admit he was a fine soldier. He was too uptight, but he never shirked his duties or backed down from a fight. His name was Becclem." Paine regaled them with her tale.
"How did you meet Brock? What made you two such fond friends?" Aidan asked.
"I remember meeting him when I went to a friend's wedding in Bevelle. He was a squire in the Crusaders then, not yet a knight and yet he commanded a lot of respect and loyalty from his comrades. There was an attack on the city that day, and it ruined the wedding. Brock came marching into battle, without showing even a hint of fear. He drove out the raiders and single-handedly saved the city. I never forgot him after that. He convinced me to join the army of Yevon, and we worked together on many missions. I was there at the ceremony when he was knighted." Paine said, reliving the memories of what felt like a past life now. Aidan and Caelan watched her in silence.
"That's interesting… and did Brock ever tell you about us? His people and his home?" Aidan asked.
"No. He told me that he came from an island off the coast of Wilderia. He never even told me that it was north of Sin's Wake. I never knew that Cale Albia existed until a couple days ago when he told me we should flee here." Paine admitted.
"Flee? From what?" Caelan asked.
"That's… complicated." Paine replied uneasily.
"Really? Is there something we should know?" Aidan asked suspiciously.
"Maybe… but I'm not sure you're ready to know it." Paine replied hesitantly.
"Is that so? Interesting… are the two of you in trouble then?" Aidan continued to pry.
"Yes, we are actually." Paine admitted bluntly.
"Hmm… well, I suppose we have no choice but to wait until either you or Brock deign to enlighten us. Personally I don't suspect you of any foul play. I hope I am right about that." Aidan surmised.
"I just do whatever I feel I have to do, what I feel is right. But I listen to my own soul and my own heart, and that causes me a lot of grief." Paine told him.
"As it does for us all…" Aidan said, leveling the conversation, and he stood up and went to his saddle bag, procuring a large bull horn. He sucked in a big breath and pressed the end of it to his lips, and then released a huge-sounding din across the fields and woods, filling the air with a deep blast. After that he sat down and Caelan produced his flute, and began playing light-hearted melodies while Aidan serenaded through the night. Paine sat in silence, listening to his charming voice and the heartfelt and often amusing lyrics he sang. After half a dozen songs, the two young men quieted down for a moment, and they could hear footsteps approaching up the path on the hill.
"Hello to the camp! I'm coming up." A large voice boomed up at them. Paine recognized the voice immediately; it was Brock.
"Brock!" She shouted, and immediately ran down the path to embrace him in the shadows. Brock wrapped her in his mighty arms and twirled her around in a circle, and then they walked back up the path. Aidan and Caelan strode over to greet Brock.
"Brock Boru! Hail old boy!" Aidan called to him.
"Is that Aidan Alu, son of Aegil himself?" Brock asked.
"Indeed it is! I'm surprised you can remember me now." Aidan said, excited.
"Well it's only been twelve years since we saw each other last." Brock replied sarcastically.
"A long time for a Calian boy to be away from home. Come Brother, tell us of your plight, and share a jug of punch. Your lady friend has been tight-lipped over it all and no friend to sweet drink either." Aidan invited him.
"Merrily, my brothers! Let's have at it!" Brock said. His accent began to emerge faintly from its long hibernation.
"Now then, first we'll see if ye can remember any good old Calian tunes!" Caelan said as he picked up his flute again. He played a fast and lively tune.
"Aye brothers, that one I'd never forget!" Brock said, and immediately he and Aidan began to sing in rich tones.
A long time ago, way back in history
When all they had to drink was nothing but cups of tea!
Along came a man, by the name of Charlie Mopps,
And he invented a wonderful drink that he made out of hops!
He must have been an admiral, a sultan or a king,
And to his praises we shall always sing!
Oh look what he has done for us, he's filled our hearts with cheer!
The Lord bless Charlie Mopps the man who invented
Beer beer beer, tiddly beer beer beer!
The three of them laughed and guffawed gleefully at their reunion and sat down around the fire, passing the whiskey jug among them. Paine watched them in bewilderment. Brock was not as he had seemed all the time that she had known him, when he was so solemn and serious. Now he was glowing with mirth and freely engaging in their jollity.
"Tell us true, Brock, what is the rest of Spira like? How are the people to the south?" Caelan asked him curiously.
"Our dear girl Paine here is a perfect specimen. They take everything too seriously, they don't know how to enjoy themselves, and they have a lot of really funny ideas. Other than that, they're alright. As you can see, they don't give up on their friends." He said, and the two Alu boys laughed, but Brock smiled and winked at Paine.
"How's the beer down there? And the young girls?" Caelan asked.
"The girls are fine, but in all honesty I brought one of the prettier ones back with me. They live as if they were men, and can't hardly be reasoned with. As for the beer, it's nothing to speak of." Brock said, and again they laughed heartily.
"Well then, what kept you so long from coming home? And what happened to split you up when you got back here?" Aidan enquired.
"It's a long story, and I've no violin to play to it. As for our landing, the boy flying our ship had us both bail out under heavy fire from those gentle folk in the channel. I suppose they'll probably be sending in search parties to scavenge the crash site, if they can find it. We'll want to be among friends before that happens. I was caught up in a bog for a while, but I got cleaned up and decided to try to find Paine. I heard your horn and came towards the campfire. Now that we're all here, I think I should be heading to Heargborough. My family will skin me alive if they find out I've come back to the isle without immediately going home to see them." Brock said hyperbolically.
"I bet they would. You've not seen them in ten years, after all. I don't envy your having to explain that to them." Aidan remarked.
"It will be a risky endeavor for sure. I don't know about you boys, but I'm exhausted and that punch is going to my head. Perhaps we should retire." Brock suggested wearily.
"I can't argue with that. It's been a long day, as I'm sure our gorgeous lady would agree." Aidan said.
"I'm surprised she lets you get away with that kind of talk so soon. I knew her for ten years before I declared as much." Brock said in amazement, and with some agitation. Paine merely shrugged as they gazed upon her.
"I guess I won't hold it against any of you, since the whiskey has been flowing and it has been a long day, after all." Paine said with feigned indifference.
"See, she understands our country already!" Aidan said with a grin, and then he laid down on his bedroll and rocked back and forth until he was comfortable.
"Well, if you introduced it to her, then I'm sure she'll think highly of us all." Brock said as he too laid on the soft ground by the fireplace and rested his head on a saddle bag. Paine sat on a flat-topped stone and gazed down upon the scene before her. All three of the men had passed out already, and left the fire crackling. At this point it was only a few hours before dawn. The jug of whiskey rested on the sandy soil, its cork just barely nudged in. The items they had packed were scattered and strewn about the campsite. Caelan's flute lay beside his pillow as he slept. Aidan looked like an angel in his slumber, as if all his cares and worldly troubles were utterly dissolved and he was adrift in heavenly planes. Brock was snoring mightily as he slept, but after a while even he was perfectly silent. Dew began to coat the ground, and their blankets and hair.
What sort of place have I fallen into now? I never once dreamed such a country of people could exist.
Paine was very tired, but the calm of the night and the stillness of the cairns and the altar seemed to enliven her soul, and her imagination soared. She closed her eyes while she sat atop the flat stone and she began drifting away. A sort of energy was pulsing through her body then, and it began to grow stronger, keeping pace with her own heartbeat. She felt her head swelling up with blood again, and she was in another world, the magical world. Paine was somehow still aware of her surroundings, as if she could see the cairns and the campsite in her head, as clearly as though she were looking at it from outside her body. She even saw herself there, sitting placidly near the center of the site. Suddenly the fire began crackling and hissing, and blue sparks flared from it. Soon the whole fire was burning bright blue, and voices could be heard on the wind. The carved glyphs and painted patterns on the cairn stones began to glow with bright light, and their vivid colors came to life. Voices of spirits, people and even animals began to flow over the hill and through the cairns, carried by a rising breeze. They talked, bantered and laughed, some of them chanted and prayed. Paine could see ghostly figures walking across the hill and between the cairns. These spirits appeared as faint phantasms, and pyre flies swirled around them with a soft whining noise.
Paine opened her eyes then, and she could still see the scene as it was in her mind. She saw a ghostly man walk up to the fireside then, radiating an aura of magical blue light about his figure. He was tall and lithe in form, with leather and chain armor on, and a sword was on his belt. He wore a helmet with a pair of horns on it, their tips pointed upward. A death wound was open on his side under his ribs, and he was missing his left hand. He reached down to the jug of whiskey on the ground with his right hand, lifted it up and uncorked it with his teeth. He spat the cork into the fire and then tilted the jug up, pouring it all into his mouth. Paine saw steam rising from his figure as the whiskey passed through his ghostly form, losing its essence as it splashed onto the soil at his ethereal feet. His form glowed brighter then and he seemed to be invigorated. He gazed at Paine with eyes that glowed with a cool blue light. He dropped the jug gently back into the sand and pointed his finger at Beclem's sword.
Paine reached for the sword and unsheathed it, presenting it to the ghostly warrior. He nodded and strode up in front of her. Paine sat perfectly still, unwavering as the spirit drew near and reached out his hand, touching the blade of the sword. As she watched, blue sparks and pyre flies flowed over the blade and delved into it, imbuing the sword with magical blessings. Paine heard the spirits of sages and saints from the isle chanting all around her as the magic fused into the metal, and she could feel the sword pulsing in her hand. She did stir, but stayed seated and passive, and the spirits presented no malice to her. She saw movement around the fire as Aidan and Brock awoke and sat up. They did not rise to their feet, but their eyes were wide with wonderment as they sat witnessing the magic before them.
The chanting reached a climax and the sages made their final call, and then the magic stream was finished. The one-handed warrior released Paine's sword then, and it continued to glow with scintillating blue light. The warrior saluted Paine, and then turned and walked silently into the darkness. All of the sages and spirits went away and faded into the night, and all was silent again. The blue light upon the sword began to fade then, and soon it was submerged into the steel. Paine could sense that it was still there, dwelling within the blade. It now carried a part of the warrior's spirit. With all of the ghosts departed, Aidan and Brock immediately stood up, and Caelan rolled over and knelt by the fire, praying in a low, muttering voice. The flames returned to a natural orange color, and sank back down to a soft crackle.
"What did you do?" Aidan asked her, visibly in shock.
"I didn't do anything, I just sat there. Why did they come here? Who was that man in the horned helmet?" Paine asked him.
"That was Zulrik, one of Wulfgar's comrades. This altar was erected by his family, and this was once his land." Aidan told her, with reverence in his voice.
"Why did he appear now?" Paine asked again.
"Wulfgar and his men sometimes appear across this isle, to help the Calian people, to protect the folk, and to bestow their blessings upon worthy warriors and sages." Brock said.
"Why would they come to me?" Paine asked, still curious. Aidan and Brock both hesitated in silence for a moment. Finally Aidan spoke.
"There must be something about you that they can see… and find worthy of their interest. Zulrik is a guardian spirit of warriors and heroes. He can't be tricked in matters of character; he understands the nature of the warrior's heart. But he rarely blesses women, unless…" Aidan said, and then he paused.
"Unless what?" Paine prompted him.
"Unless they have a special role to play in the destiny of the folk. We must tell Ruach of this as soon as possible." Aidan concluded soberly.
"True, he needs to know, but what are we supposed to do now?" Brock spoke up.
"Everything else can wait for now, you know that Brother. I understand your concern for your family and clan, but this is too important to ignore. He may have chosen her to be our next Battle Queen." Aidan said with reverence and determination.
"What?!" Paine asked with exasperation. She was utterly bewildered.
"Let's not waste any time then. Saddle up the horses and let's ride. The sun will be rising soon, and we'll find the way back to Briar Bay." Brock agreed finally.
"Let's away then, Brothers. My Lady, we'll escort you back to my father's hall and set up quarters for you immediately." Aidan assured her.
"Wait! What in Spira are you all talking about?" Paine demanded.
"Until Ruach has his say, there's little we can tell you Paine. I'm sorry, I know it's unfair to you, but I need you to trust me on this. You'll know everything you need to know, soon." Brock beseeched her for her confidence.
"I trust you Brock, but this is taking a strange turn. You've left me in the dark so far. I never even knew anything about your people until now. I don't know if I have offended them or not." Paine said anxiously.
"If Lord Zulrik favors you, then you don't have to worry about offending anyone. We have to be certain though. Our wise men will know what to do, and we have to follow tradition." Brock assured her. Paine sighed softly, but she nodded her head in acceptance.
"Alright Brock. I'm along for the ride at this point. I still don't even know what we're going to do at this point. Yevon will most certainly be hunting for us. I can't go back to Wilderia, I know that. You saved my life, but where I can live it now is hard to figure out." She said.
"You remember what we swore to each other on the shore outside of Bevelle? That we would quit Yevon and go somewhere far away, to live our lives together. What better time than now?" Brock replied plainly. Paine gazed at him in bewilderment then. She remembered, and that was indeed what she had wanted, yet it had turned out so different from what she hoped for. So much had happened since then.
"We're ready to go now." Aidan said as he brought the horses up to join them.
"Good, let's mount up and get to the bay." Brock said, and he climbed up onto Gulfaxi's back and offered his hand down to Paine. She hesitated for a brief instant, but then took hold of him and climbed up onto the back of the horse, sitting behind Brock and wrapping her arms around him.
The three horses and their riders made a swift gallop over the plains and through the woods, as the faint glow of sunrise began to spread across the horizon. They crested the tallest hill between them and Briar Bay as the sun reddened the sky and glinted on the waters, painting the clouds a smattering of exquisite color, and Paine had to admit to herself that she was actually happy to be there. Riding behind Brock with her arms around his muscular torso and absorbing the spirit of that moment; it was rejuvenating her soul.
If this moment could last, I would live and die on Cale Albia. Another moment like this might be worth a lifetime here, no matter how far away it is from the world I knew.
The companions descended from the hill and galloped down to the bay, and Aidan sounded his horn so that the watchmen on the walls would open up the city gates. The hooves of their horses clapped crisply against the brick lanes until they returned to the stables of lord Aegil. Despite their early morning arrival, the lord and his men came out to greet his son and their guests. The folds of his robes fluttering while he walked, and the fur hide around his shoulders rustled gently in the breeze. His wizened face was keen and showed satisfaction.
"You returned rather quickly my son, and with our long lost Brock no less! I'm surprised that you did not even take rest until morning." Aegil remarked joyfully.
"That we might have, Father, if not for a remarkably display by our guest Lady Paine." Aidan replied.
"Do tell…" Aegil prompted him.
"We settled down for the night on the hilltop cairn of Landis to the east. While we slept the Lady was still sitting upon the altar, and when we awoke we saw the ghost of Lord Zulrik himself, and he bestowed a magical power upon her sword." Aidan retold for his father. Aegil became serious immediately.
"You speak true, I can tell… but what does this mean? She is a stranger in our lands. Lady Paine, where did you get that amulet?" Aegil asked her as his gaze fell upon the trinity talisman and necklace of beads and gems that hung around her neck and rested between the folds of her jacket. Paine looked down upon it, remembering now that she had worn it when the ghost appeared before her. She clasped it in her fingers and held it out for him to see it.
"Your elder Ruach stopped us before we left town. He gave it to me, and asked me to wear it." She replied plainly. Aegil's eyes were alight with wonder and reverence.
"Then it is meant to be. Ruach left late last night, and returned to Danir Grove. We must assemble folk for a council, and go there at once." Aegil said, and he turned to stride back to his hall.
"Well, the day just got a lot longer then." Aidan said with a weary sigh.
"What now?" Paine asked, rubbing her eyes and groaning in exhaustion.
"Ruach has gone back to his clan's home in the northwestern forests. We'll have to go there and meet him of course… and of course, since we are going and my Father knows how important this may turn out to be, he will be calling for a council. That means all of the leaders and important families from all of the clans and their settlements will be gathering there. It will be a convention." Aidan explained.
"Brock, do you know what he's talking about?" Paine asked as she turned to him for answers.
"I remember it from when I was young. The clans and all of our elders and sages met to discuss the threat of invasion, which was suspected at the time. I guarantee it will come up again this time, as it always does. Also the question of Yevon, and if they should choose to make any moves on us and our island. Then of course there is the matter concerning you, which will likely take up the majority of the convention's duration." Brock told her.
"Can we talk about this alone, Brock?" Paine asked him with a hushed tone.
"If you want to, sure." Brock said with a nod. They walked together into the stables and went to the back, away from their new friends. Paine spoke then in a low voice.
"What do you think they will do with me, Brock?" She asked him.
"I don't know, Paine. It's been generations now since our people had a Lady of Battles, as we often called her. She is a protector of the Calian people, charged with leadership of our warriors, and she carries the blessings of Wulfgar and his Holy Host. It is even said that she may call upon Wulfgar himself, and he will answer. It is the highest honor that anyone among the Calian people may attain. We have not had a king or queen in over a century now; only Wulfgar may choose one whom he deems worthy of the title, and there can be no succession without his expressed approval." Brock elaborated. Paine gazed at him with utter seriousness.
"I've been here for two days, and they already think I am their queen? How can this happen, Brock?" Paine asked him.
"Surely you didn't expect that you could take the Medusa's eyes in the midst of her ceremony, without it ever leading to anything dramatic? Paine, I don't know why you did that, and it sounds like you don't either, but surely there must have been something to it. Old Sage Ruach knows of the other tribes across the northern continent of Spira. He would know more about Medusa's eyes and the history of the Black Eagle Tribe. I think it is in your best interest to seek him out. You should come with us to Danir Grove. Listen to what the council has to say. In the end the decision will be yours; no one can be made Queen of Battle if they are unwilling to assume the role. Please, at least stay with me to visit my home and family. Then we can go wherever you choose." Brock bargained with her.
"Well I had hoped I could at least meet your parents… who are they, by the way?" Paine asked awkwardly.
"My father is Beorg, chieftain of the Boru Clan. My mother's name is Hanna, and my younger brother is Tristan. They live in our family's ancestral hall in the village of Heargborough, under the slopes of Mount Eragal and the shadow of Wulfgar's tomb. It is a beautiful and haunting place… and I've been long away. I wish that you could have met them there, but then again, Danir Grove is a fair enough place to gather. It will be pleasant to receive the hospitality of the Danu clan; they are a forest people and they live on the bounty of the woods and glades in their territory." Brock told her.
"I see. I look forward to meeting them all. I certainly want to see your old home, and the places where you grew up." Paine said. Brock smiled.
"You may find yourself falling in love with our land. We have all found it worth fighting for, over the centuries." Brock said.
"Maybe…" Paine replied.
"Let's get some rest before we have to go. I'm exhausted, and I know you are too." Brock said with a sigh. His bright blue eyes were weary.
"Oh yeah, I am. I'm about to fall asleep standing up." Paine remarked, and they chuckled together as they walked out of the stables and down the road to the hall of Aegil's family.